Basketball goal



P 1941- F. VALBACH, ETAL 2,254,507

BASKETBALL OAL Filed June 8, 1940 2 Sheet eet 1 L I MENTOR FRANK A H BY GEORGE HERVENKA A RNEY.

Sept. 2, 1941. F. ALBACH ETAL 2,254,507

BASKETBALL GOAL I Filed June 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK ALBACH BY GEORGE R.CHERVENKA v ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 BASKETBALL GOAL Frank Albach and George R. Chervenka, St. Louis, I

Mo.,assignors to Fred Medart Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 8, 1940, Serial No; 339,450 6 Claims. (01. ave-1.5)

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in basket-ball goals. Our invention has for its chief object the provision of a basket-ball goal uniquely constructed for connection and co-operation with a companion bank for augmenting net visibility of the goal.

Our invention hasfor another object the provision of a goal of the type stated which may be economically constructed, which may be readily joined to a companion bank of any desired thickness and meet standard requirements of goal construction, and which is rigid and durable.

Our invention has for a further object the Provision of a goal of the type stated equipped with a spaced series of hooks of unique form and structure for facfle, convenient net attachment.

' And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

' In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) Figure 1 is a perspective view of a basket-ball goal embodying our invention;

Figure .2 is a reduced front elevational view of the goal in installed position upon a companion bank;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the bank and goal of Figure 2, taken approximately on the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of basket-ball goal embodying our invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmental side elevational view,

partly in section, of the goal of Figure 4 in in stalled position upon a companion bank, the latter being in vertical section; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-8, Figure 5.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the accompanying drawings, which ably permanently attached at its one or inner end, as at a, to the ring A. The plate I preferably fiares or tapers outwardly from its inner to its outer end, as shown, and at itsouter end is laterally extended in the provision of an upwardly presented flange 2.

mediate its ends to, and upon the outer or rear face of, the flange 2 of bracket D, is a bar or post E of suitable length and preferably of rectangular section. Suitably fixed to and upon the front face, and at the upper end, of the bar or post E, is a transverse strip 3, and welded or otherwise fixed at their rear end to the lower end of the bar E, are brace rods F, which divergingly project forwardly and obliquely outwardly and upwardly and at their respective forward ends are welded or otherwise joined, as at f, to and upon the under face and at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the ring A.

(Io-operable with and substantially forming part of the goal proper, is a bank G, which may be constructed of any suitable or standard material, and which, in elevation, has preferably the form and outline best seen in Figure 2. As there shown, the bank G centrally of and upon its lower margin is arcuately cut away, as at o, to seat smoothly and snugly upon the plate I with the lower margin of its rear face in abutment against the front face of the flange 2 and cross piece 3, to

which the bank G is rigidly secured by suitable turn to the field, and eliminating any lodging I thereupon, of the ball when in play.

The rules of the game of basket-ball usually prescribe the distance between the outer face of the particular bank and the diametrically opposite point, as a, of the ring A, and in the goal of Figures 1, 2, and 3, the bank G is of such thickness and the plate I is of such length and breadth that such goal meets present game requirements and specifications. However, to meet variations in bank thickness and yet conform to standard game regulations, reference is now made to the modified goal of Figures 4, 5, and 6. "Such goal similarly includes a ring A and hooks B for dependingly supporting the net C.

The bracket D, however, comprises a plate I,

which has considerably greater length than that of plate I, and upon the upper face of which plate I is welded or otherwise permanently fixed an angle-member it having an upwardlypresented flange 2'.

seated centrally at its lower margin on the plate I with the adjacent portion of its front face abuttingv fiatwise against the rear face of, and suitably bolt-connected to, the flange 2', is a Welded or otherwise permanently fixed interso bank G. Preferably also plate l'jan'd bank G? are similarly. respectively, transversely arched and marginally cut out for increasing net visibility, and it should here be noted that the member (1 is so fixed at such location upon the plate I' that the distance between the point a: on the circumference of the ring A and the inner face of the particular seated bank G is approximately such as to meet the specifications of goal construction as required by basket-ball game rules.

Yet the particular bank G may have greater than standard thickness. Hence the bank-securing bar or post E is constructed of or divided into two companion or co-operable portions, namely, so-called upper and lower portions e ande', respectively.

The lower bar-portion e comprises a headblock 5, which is welded or otherwise fixed to, and centrally upon, the under face of the plate I; and welded or otherwise fixed at their rear end to the lower end of the bar-portion e, are brace-rods F, which similarly divergingly pro- Ject forwardly and obliquely outwardly and upwardly and at their respective forward ends are welded or otherwise joined, as at f, to and upon the under face and at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the ring A.

Seated in and projecting upwardly through the block 5 and plate I, is a stud-bolt 6, and having a longitudinally disposed slot, as at I, for adjustably accommodating the shank of the bolt 6, and fitting for slidable movement on the upper face of the plate I, is a foot-block 8 of the upper bar-portion e, which likewise at its upper end is equipped with a transverse strip 3'.

Thus the upper bar-portion e is conveniently shiftable on the plate i' for accommodating banks G of different thicknesses and for rigid connection with the particular seated bank G' by means of stud-bolts or the like 4 engaging such bank G and the flange 2' and strip 3', as

shown. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, one of such securing bolts, as, for instance, bolt 4, engages also for goal rigidity the bar E, which is apertured, as at 9, for the purpose; and likewise. as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, a specific bolt, as, for instance, the bolt 4'', engages for goal r1- gidity the upper bar-portion e, the bar-portion e being apertured .for the purpose, as at 8', and a spacing member l0, having the same thickness as that of the strip 3', is preferably also for goal rigidity interposed on the bolt l intermediate the bar-portion e and the particular bank G, as shown.

The goal may be readily constructed, built, and installed, is rigid and durable, meets all requirev ments, and efllciently performs its intended functions. And, in addition, the hooks B are uniquely formed for facilitating convenient engagement with, and for effectively supporting, the net C. As best seen in Figure 3, each such hook B is constructed of a single integral section of suitable gauge'bendable wire doubled upon itself substantially midway its ends to include a double strand bill ll, fiaringly spaced shanks l2, l2,

and laterally outwardly presented legs I8, It, the

hook B at its legs I! being welded or otherwise fixed to the ring A and the strands of the bill ll being substantially in sidewise abutment and being of such lengthwise curvature as to present the tip of the bill ll intermediate and slightly beyond the opposite plane of the shanks i2 for accommodating facile slipwise insertion of .the top-cord of the net C between the bill II and shanks II for net support.

And it is to be understood that changes and modifications in the form. construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the goal may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a basket-ball goal, a net-supporting ring, a plate connected to, and disposed approximately in the plane of the ring, and means including a strip connected to and projecting upwardly from the plate for securing the plate and ring to an associated bank. I

I 2. In a basket-ball goal, a net-supporting ring, a plate connected to, and disposed approximately in the plane of the ring, and means including a cross-strip laterally upstanding from the plate for fiatwlse engagement against the rear face of, and with, an associated bank for securing the plate to said bank with the plate in underlying relation to a margin thereof.

3. In a basket-ball goal, a net-supporting ring, a plate connected to, and disposed approximately in the plane of the ring, means including acrossstrip laterally upstanding from the plate for securing the plate and ring to an associated bank with the plate in underlying relation to a margin thereof, a bar fixed to and lengthwise depending from the plate, and obliquely extending bracerods fixed to the bar and to the ring.

4. In a basket-ball goal, a net-supporting ring. a plate connected to, and disposed approximately in the plane of the ring, means including a crossstrip laterally upstanding from the rear margin of the plate for fiatwise engagement against the rear face of, and with, an associated bank for securing the plate and ring to said bank with the plate in underlying relation to the lower margin thereof, a bar fixed to and lengthwise angularly disposed to the plate with opposite end-portions thereof disposed above and below the plane thereof, and obliquely extending brace-rods fixed to the ring and to the lower end-portion of the bar, the upper end portion of the bar being adapted for connection to said bank.

5. In a basket-ball goal, a net-supporting ring, a plate connected to, and disposed approximately in the plane of the ring, means including a crossstrip laterally upstanding from the plate for fiatwise engagement against the front face of an associated bank for securing the plate and ring to the bank with the plate underlying the lower margin of the bank, and a bar mounted for shiftable movement on the plate for adjustableengagement with the plate and to and upon the rear face of the bank.

6. In a basket-ball goal, a net-supporting ring, a plate connected to, and disposed approximately in the plane of the ring, a first bar-member angularly fixed to, and lengthwise depending from the plate, obliquely extending brace-rods fixed to the bar and to the ring, a cross-strip laterally upstanding from the plate for fiatwise engagement against the front face of an associated bank for securing the plate and ring to the bank with the plate underlying a margin of the bank. and a second bar-member mounted for shiftable movement upon the plate for adjustable engagement with the plate and to and upon the rear face of the bank.

FRANK ALBACH. GEORGE R. CHERVENKA. 

